The Roar » Daniel Gilhooly

Kiwi Sevens hopefuls get up to speed

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:53:22 +0000

They’ve never lost a match at the Commonwealth Games, they’re boosted by some serious All Blacks firepower and arch rivals Fiji are nowhere to be seen.

They are unbackable favourites, yet the New Zealand sevens rugby team are taking nothing for granted as they chase a fourth successive gold medal at New Delhi.

The kings of the abbreviated game for more than a decade, sevens coaching guru Gordon Tietjens will hope a short buildup has his New Zealand players fit enough for the demands of playing in oppressive heat.

Tietjens has named four fringe All Blacks in his 12-man squad – wingers Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford and Ben Smith, along with flanker Liam Messam, who comes in as a late replacement for the injured Adam Thomson.

“The game is made for guys like Hosea, Zac and Ben but the first thing 15s players assume is that there’s a lot more space. It’s not as easy as that,” skipper DJ Forbes said.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of skill sets that evolve through playing a lot of sevens.

“The key is going to be for the sevens specialists to nurture the boys who haven’t had a lot of sevens (Guildford and Smith).

“We’ve got a good mix. Tietj will have a job picking his starting seven and that’s good for us.”

Fiji’s exclusion from the Games on political grounds leaves Samoa as the obvious team to beat although England and South Africa pose threats as well.

New Zealand team: DJ Forbes (captain), Toby Arnold, Kurt Baker, Tomasi Cama, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson, Lote Raikabula, Ben Smith, Ben Souness, Sherwin Stowers

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All Black hooker, halfback backups face chop

Daniel Gilhooly — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:36:55 +0000

New Zealand selectors will seriously consider ditching a backup hooker and halfback from their year-end tour squad to make room for more Rugby World Cup fringe contenders. Coach Graham Henry wishes he could name more than 30 in his squad for the five-Test tour to Hong Kong and Europe given his desire to expose Cup [...]

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Henry hushed over Super rugby plan

Daniel Gilhooly — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:36:10 +0000

Given the Rugby World Cup disaster of 2007, it’s little wonder New Zealand coach Graham Henry isn’t keen to discuss his player welfare hopes for next year’s Super competition. Henry, All Blacks management and key figures from New Zealand’s five Super rugby franchises started a two-day meeting in Wellington on Monday to formulate a plan [...]

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All Blacks radar on Sonny Bill

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:03:43 +0000

Sonny Bill Williams officially enters the consciousness of the All Blacks coaches this weekend, the first of numerous recuperating stars hoping to shoehorn a place in the crack New Zealand backline. Assistant coach Wayne Smith will trek to his old club ground of Sheldon Park on the outskirts of Christchurch on Saturday — five hours [...]

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It’s all about the World Cup, says Deans

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:28:33 +0000

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has declared this year is all about steering Australia towards 2011 World Cup glory and losses along the way will only strengthen his under-fire side. The Wallabies coach cut a far more relaxed figure on Tuesday than at any stage in public around last Saturday’s crushing 49-28 loss to the All [...]

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All Blacks setting World Cup benchmark

Daniel Gilhooly — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:40:58 +0000

The pendulum has well and truly swung back to the All Blacks. Now the big question is whether they can maintain their hold over the Springboks – and other nations – for the 14 months between now and the rugby World Cup. Playing with a lethal mix of speed and energy, they overwhelmed South Africa [...]

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NZRU posts record loss

Daniel Gilhooly — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:13:31 +0000

A record financial loss came as no surprise to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), which is predicting more pain but a better bottom line over coming years. The NZRU announced on Thursday a loss of $NZ15.9 million ($A12.18 million) for 2009 at its annual meeting in Wellington, attributing it to the impact of the [...]

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Newcastle Jets offer faint praise for Phoenix

Daniel Gilhooly — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:13:53 +0000

The Newcastle Jets coach and captain could barely bring themselves to talk up the Wellington Phoenix after bowing out of the A-League soccer race here today. Soon after the 3-1 extra time loss, Jets coach Branko Culina reinforced his personal stance that an Australian club should be in the competition ahead of the Phoenix while [...]

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Herbert praises his travel weary heroes

Daniel Gilhooly — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:10:48 +0000

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert couldn’t hide his pride in the Phoenix’s All Whites representatives after they helped churn out 120 minutes of heroic soccer to carry the New Zealanders deep into the A-League playoffs. While striker Paul Ifill inspired a 3-1 defeat of the Newcastle Jets in their minor semi-final in Wellington on Sunday, midfielders [...]

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A hundred rugby wins, and thousands of frustrated fans

Daniel Gilhooly — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:36:15 +0000

One hundred Tests won in a decade of rugby, yet still the long faces from All Blacks supporters. The past 10 years has seen one team dominate the international landscape more than any team in the game’s history. An 82 percent win ratio since 2000 is a triumphant feat in a professional age which was [...]

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Henry may experiment with All Blacks tour squad

Daniel Gilhooly — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:19:14 +0000

New Zealand All Black coach Graham Henry, center, flanked by Byron Kelliher, left and Richie McCaw during a training session in Edinburgh, Scotland, Friday, Sept 21, 2007. New Zealand are preparing for a Rugby World Cup Group C match against Scotland in Edinburgh. AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford

How much All Blacks coach Graham Henry is prepared to experiment is the question that holds the most intrigue before he names his tour squad on Sunday.

Henry eyes redemption against Springboks

Daniel Gilhooly — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:57:42 +0000

Coach Graham Henry is already talking up the All Blacks’ shot at rugby redemption against the Springboks next year. The prospect of a better run with injuries and some reinforcements from Europe have Henry quietly confident of footing it with the world champions. Touted as a tight tournament before it kicked off two months ago, [...]

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The axe is hovering for underperforming All Blacks

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:55:07 +0000

All Blacks coach, Graham Henry. AAP Images

Patience has run out for the All Blacks coaches, who are poised to wield the axe on their underperforming team for Saturday’s final Tri-Nations rugby Test against Australia in Wellington.

All Black set to makes changes for Wallabies clash

Daniel Gilhooly — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:26:11 +0000

One change on the wing is a certainty while there is every chance the All Blacks midfield will be reshuffled once again to face Australia in a Tri-Nations rugby test in Wellington next Saturday. Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu did not travel to the capital with the squad on Sunday after being ruled out for four to [...]

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Boks make one change for All Blacks Test

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:22:06 +0000

The All Blacks’ belief that South Africa will kick the leather off the ball in their Tri-Nations rugby Test on Saturday appears well founded after the tourists announced one change to their team. The fullback with the booming boot, Francois Steyn, replaces Ruan Pienaar from the side who lost 21-6 to Australia in Brisbane last [...]

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De Villiers says refs targeting Boks

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:18:24 +0000

Outspoken South African rugby coach Peter de Villiers believes his team are being targeted by referees because of their world No 1 status, citing officials’ body language when awarding decisions against the Springboks. In a burst that would be ranked among the better rugby conspiracy theories, De Villiers offered a stinging verdict of the officiating [...]

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Springboks hard man vows not to change

Daniel Gilhooly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:39:34 +0000

Springboks lock Bakkies Botha is unrepentant over his controversial suspension last month and vows never to tone down his brutal approach to Test rugby. Botha shapes as a central figure in the Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Durban on Saturday, after throwing his massive frame around Bloemfontein to good effect last weekend’s win over [...]

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All Blacks mull maul conundrum

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:11:34 +0000

Steve Hansen isn’t a fan of rugby’s maul but the All Blacks forward coach is anxious his team start mastering it – preferably by this weekend. One clear point of difference when the Springboks beat New Zealand 28-19 in their Tri Nations series match in Bloemfontein last weekend was the hosts’ ability to chew up [...]

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All Blacks runaway train better late than never

Daniel Gilhooly — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:49:00 +0000

The All Blacks will call on their recent ability to finish Test rugby matches like a runaway locomotive when they face South Africa on Saturday. Compelling statistics show New Zealand have become the best closers in the world game, with their record against the Springboks especially impressive. The two great rivals have barely been separated [...]

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McCaw says Carter a bonus if fit

Daniel Gilhooly — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:22:35 +0000

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has reacted with cautious optimism to news that champion five eighth Daniel Carter is on the verge of a return to rugby action. Carter needed to pass a fitness test before he could be cleared to play for his Southbridge club in Christchurch on Saturday – nearly six months after [...]

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Pienaar named at five-eighth for Springboks

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:05:51 +0000

Ruan Pienaar will wear the contentious Springboks five-eighth jersey in Sunday morning’s Tri-Nations rugby Test against the All Blacks at Bloemfontein. Pienaar fought off the challenge of Bulls superboot Morne Steyn to be handed the playmaking role in what is a Springboks side at very close to full strength. The only players missing from the [...]

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All Blacks got away with law-bending in first Test

Daniel Gilhooly — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:05:48 +0000

The All Blacks and France swam against the natural order of rugby etiquette when the subject of law-bending was raised ahead of Saturday’s second Test in Wellington. French coach Marc Lievremont believed New Zealand got away with murder at the breakdown for a large period of last week’s first Test in Dunedin which the tourists [...]

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Smith wary of history-chasing France

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:49:17 +0000

France have upgraded their team and will run high on emotion when chasing a series clean sweep in the second rugby Test on Saturday, according to All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. Maintaining his reputation as a selection tinkerer, French coach Marc Lievremont today found room for three new faces in his starting team who [...]

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More french misery for All Blacks

Daniel Gilhooly — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:55:21 +0000

At the Rugby World Cup it was devastation. On Saturday night it was utter frustration inflicted on New Zealand by France who were deserved 27-22 winners in the first Test. A new-look New Zealand side failed to adapt to the rigours of the Test game, outscored three tries to two by opponents who simply played [...]

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Chiefs breathing rarified air in Pretoria

Daniel Gilhooly — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:13:51 +0000

After scaling a mountain to reach the Super 14 rugby final, the Chiefs will draw breath before assaulting a steep Pretoria summit. The first team to reach a final after losing their first three Super rugby games, the Chiefs’ ultimate assignment is their stiffest – to topple the highly favoured Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on [...]

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Dan Carter may struggle on return

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:36:54 +0000

It may take champion New Zealand five-eighth Dan Carter considerable time to return to his best when he recovers from his ruptured Achilles tendon, according to All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson. Carter is nearly three weeks into his recovery from surgery on the tendon in Perpignan, where his six-month sabbatical with the French club was [...]

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Hurricanes promise ‘Tahs a tougher test

Daniel Gilhooly — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:17:13 +0000

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is convinced there will be no repeat of the early Super 14 gift his team granted the NSW Waratahs this time last year. The two highly-rated teams once again have an opening-round date, in Wellington on Saturday, with Cooper satisfied the Hurricanes won’t bring the same headless chooks approach. That resulted [...]

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FFA throw support behind Phoenix

Daniel Gilhooly — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:35:11 +0000

Football Federation Australia has announced a strengthening of support for the Wellington Phoenix’s long-term involvement in the A-League. Its future came into question in November when Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam said he did not support the Oceania Confederation club remaining in the Australian A-League beyond 2011. That is when world governing [...]

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NZRU considers breaks for players

Daniel Gilhooly — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:23:33 +0000

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has gone cold on sabbaticals but is considering introducing breaks to lengthen the careers of top All Blacks. All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter this week begins his personalised six-month contract with Perpignan which allows him to return directly to New Zealand rugby. It is a sabbatical that could [...]

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Henry Test rugby’s first coaching centurion

Daniel Gilhooly — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:23:39 +0000

International Rugby Board coach of the year Graham Henry has reached a less-publicised but significant milestone on the All Blacks’ grand slam tour. He has become Test rugby’s first coaching century-maker. Henry moved past the 98 Tests of French rival Bernard Laporte when the All Blacks beat Scotland in Edinburgh to kick-start their Grand Slam [...]

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